Animals
We live on a planet with millions of species of animals -and a rich, diverse collection of known wildlife, and yet new species are being identified seemingly every day — both living and extinct.
Whether it’s the deadliest snakes, longest-living creatures or the history of the dinosaurs, at Live Science, our expert writers are here to help you understand Earth's incredible fauna — past and present — with the latest animal news, features and articles.
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Enormous dinosaur dubbed Shiva 'The Destroyer' is one of the biggest ever discovered
By Patrick Pester published
Researchers discovered the remains of a huge dinosaur named Bustingorrytitan shiva last year and have now released artistic reconstructions of the Cretaceous giant.
Watch tigress and her cubs feasting on crocodile they killed in rare footage
By Sascha Pare published
Visitors at Ranthambore National Park in India captured rare footage and images of a tigress and her three 1-year-old cubs feasting on the carcass of a crocodile after killing it.
The biggest snake in the world (and 10 other giant serpents)
By Emma Bryce last updated
From Titanoboa and Vasuki — prehistoric snakes as long as a Tyrannosaurus rex — to modern-day pythons and boa constrictors that can swallow humans whole, these are the biggest, heaviest and longest snakes to have ever lived on Earth.
East Africa's Lake Nakuru almost doubled in size in 13 years — and that's bad news for flamingos
By Aidan Byrne published
Africa's soda lakes are rising and it's decimating the cyanobacteria flamingos have evolved to eat, putting the species at risk of drastic declines if current trends continue.
'Unusual' beaver die-off in Utah caused by 'rabbit fever,' which can also infect humans
By Harry Baker published
At least nine beavers and a vole have been found dead in Utah after an unusual outbreak of tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, which can infect and kill humans, cats and dogs. Experts warn people to be wary of ticks, which can transmit the disease across species.
50-foot 'king of the serpents' may have been the biggest snake to ever live
By Jacklin Kwan published
Giant, 47 million-year-old snake fossils pulled from mine in India may be the largest snake ever, potentially surpassing Titanoboa by around 15 feet.
Giant, 82-foot lizard fish discovered on UK beach could be largest marine reptile ever found
By Richard Pallardy published
Newly discovered ichthyosaur that lived 200 million years ago in the Triassic sea is potentially the biggest to ever live, scientists say.
Anglerfish entered the midnight zone 55 million years ago and thrived by becoming sexual parasites
By Richard Pallardy published
Anglerfish first colonized the ocean's midnight zone 55 million years ago, during a period of extreme global warming, a new study finds. The bizarre fish adapted to thrive in the deep sea by becoming sexual parasites, the researchers said.
World's oldest wild bird is 'actively courting' after losing long-term mate
By Sascha Pare published
Biologists on Midway Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean have spotted a septuagenarian female Laysan albatross named Wisdom flirting with potential mates months after the end of the nesting season.
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